[CW] Vibroplex Presentation including Short History of Vibroplex.

Sun Jan 9 02:20:46 EST 2022

Geez Dave, listening to KFS signing off sure pulled the heart strings.....
It was like watching a ship go down :-(

73,
Walter Dufrain - K5EST - QRPcw
https://www.qrz.com/db/k5est

On Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 00:42 D.J.J. Ring, Jr. <n1ea at arrl.net> wrote:

> When the Presentation model was introduced, it had the adjustable
> mainspring because the adjustable mainspring and the gold top plate see
> what made it a new model.
>
> Even though the adjustment isn't something you can do while you are
> sending with the key, you can adjust and then vary the weights to see the
> speed range and the feel of the bug. If you lengthen the mainspring you can
> get the lower speed range of the Lightning Bug model, or if you shorten the
> length you can get the action of the Blue Racer but with the pendulum
> stability of the full sized Original. (The Blue Racer was about 60% scale
> of the Original model.)
>
> Benny, I still remember "Cafe Monde" and recently I saw their coffee for
> sale in Massachusetts but I was looking for those beignets they sell in
> Baton Rouge and NOLA  at their shops. EXXON Baton Rouge wasn't my favorite
> port but I'd go back in a flash if I could send traffic from a ship again.
>
> I had lots of friends who worked over on Radio Road in Pearl River,
> Louisiana at Tropical Radio Telegraph's station WNU. What a beautiful note
> they had on 500 and 478 kHz.  Listen;
> https://archive.org/details/slidelllaradiownu
>
> For you KLC fans: https://archive.org/details/Klc-GalvestonRadio
>
> ITT KFS signing off sad recording:
> https://archive.org/details/maritimemorsememories/kfs_sk.mp3
>
> WLO Mobile, Alabama and Slidell WNU
> https://archive.org/details/maritimemorsememories/WLO_434kHz_WNU_478_05111993.mp3#
>
> JUST PRESS THE LITTLE TRIANGLE TO PLAY!
>
> More at http://tiny.cc/n1ea
>
> Over on the right you'll find files that I've uploaded that aren't always
> mentioned,  go explore!
>
> 73
>
> DR
> N1EA
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 8, 2022, 23:14 Benny K5KV <k5kvm5 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> DR
>>
>> GOING TO THE LINK YOU PROVIDED ABOVE GAVE ME THE LINK BELOW WHICH SHOWS A
>> 1963 PRESENTATION MADE AT 833 BROADWAY WITH THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE
>> MAINSPRING.
>>
>> https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/bugs.html
>>
>> PAGE 36 OF THE VIBROPLEX CO BOOK BY HOLLY SHOWS A 1948 PRESENTATION WITH
>> THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING.
>>
>> I OWN A 1954 PRESENTATION WITH THE ADJUSTABLE MAIN SPRING.  OTHER SOURCES
>> INDICATE THE LA HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING WAS ON THE FIRST 1948 VINTAGE
>> PRESENTATIONS.  FRENCH IN THE VIBROPLEX COLLECTORS GUIDE INDICATES THE LA
>> HIFF ADJUSTABLE MAINSPRING WAS DISCONTINUED ON THE PRESENTATION IN 1978.
>> ALL PRESENTATIONS AFTER THAT DATE ARE JUST A DELUXE WITH A GOLD PLATED
>> PLATE ON TOP OF THE BASE.  THE GOLD PLATED BASE BUGS SIMPLY PLATED THE BASE
>> WITH GOLD INSTEAD OF CHROME.
>>
>> 73
>> BENNY K5KV
>>
>> On Sat, Jan 8, 2022 at 4:27 PM Richard Knoppow <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>     Thank you for this comprehensive history of Vibroplex. The
>>> design of the Original and probably other models, seems to have
>>> been changed c.1946 to use rounded rather than square edged
>>> castings. I can't tell from the advertising available to me if
>>> the "delux" and "presentation" models ever came with the old
>>> style castings. I think they did not.
>>>     A thought: Anyone who has moved knows that every time you
>>> move something gets lost. I think this is true when companies get
>>> sold. Evidently Vibroplex has lost a lot.
>>>
>>> On 1/8/2022 12:03 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
>>> > Sorry, Joe, that's not completely correct. Peter Garsoe of
>>> > Portland, Maine discontinued all models of Vibroplex when he
>>> > bought Vibroplex from the Albright family who had owned Vibroplex
>>> > in New York City for decades. I know he reduced all the then
>>> > current models: Presentation, Original, Lightning Bug, and
>>> > Champion to just one model: Original. I don't know if he was the
>>> > one that came up with making multiple finishes for the Original.
>>> >
>>> > I do agree with you that the what you have, "Gold Original, that
>>> > is a gold plated bug and it does not have the La Hiff main
>>> > spring, is exactly that: a "Original with a gold plated top".
>>> > It's NOT a Presentation model because all Presentation models
>>> > (being a specific model of Vibroplex) had the LaHiff adjustable
>>> > mainspring. The later Gold Top plate and gold top plate and base
>>> > (all gold plate) models (as well as the Blue Racer 2000, and
>>> > Vibroplex Anniversary) were just Vibroplex Original models with
>>> > different base treatments.
>>> >
>>> > Vibroplex calls the key you are speaking of "Vibroplex Original
>>> > with Presentation finish" which Vibroplex now just simply calls
>>> > "Original Presentation" to differentiate it from the long running
>>> > but discontinued "Presentation" model.
>>> >
>>> > See
>>> > http://vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d12_SEMI-AUTOMATIC__BUG__keys.html
>>> > <
>>> http://vibroplex.com/contents/en-us/d12_SEMI-AUTOMATIC__BUG__keys.html>
>>> >
>>> > Vibroplex has also recently introduced a "Original Standard
>>> > Upgraded" model with the jeweled bearings. Craziest thing is they
>>> > have left the top trunnion screw adjustable, just like when the
>>> > Deluxe keys were introduced in 1948, but later that design was
>>> > abandoned because of bearing damage by operators screwing down on
>>> > the original type of bearings, which may have been garnet which
>>> > is much softer than ruby. Rubies are 9 on the Mohs hardness scale
>>> > while garnets are 6.5 to 7.5. (See
>>> > https://indyfacets.com/blog/the-difference-between-garnets-and-rubies/
>>> > <
>>> https://indyfacets.com/blog/the-difference-between-garnets-and-rubies/>)
>>> >
>>> > So maybe the new jeweled bearings don't crack and the decorative
>>> > red piece will be discontinued in time.
>>> >
>>> > Peter Garsoe of Portland, Maine Vibroplex discontinued the
>>> > previous threaded red decorative piece because making an
>>> > investment casting for that part was (to him) prohibitively
>>> > expensive. He replaced it with a domed red plastic piece that was
>>> > glued in with Duco cement. Somewhere along the line, the stamp
>>> > for the Vibroplex name plate was list. But the good thing is that
>>> > these keys are still being made.
>>> >
>>> > The Original Deluxe first came out in 1940. The Presentation
>>> > model came out in 1948.
>>> >
>>> > Short history of Vibroplex from
>>> > https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/Vibroplex_History.html
>>> > <https://history.k4lrg.org/Projects/Vibroplex_History.html>:
>>> >
>>> > Horace G. Martin, inventor of the Vibroplex, teamed up with J.E.
>>> > Albright in 1911. Albright was an entrepreneur who had been
>>> > selling typewriters since 1890, and he readily took on the task
>>> > of manufacturing and selling the Vibroplex instruments. Together,
>>> > Martin and Albright formed “The Vibroplex Company, Inc.” in 1915.
>>> >
>>> >           Martin sold his interest in the company to Albright in
>>> > 1920. During the late 1930s, after all the original patents (now
>>> > owned by Albright) had expired, Martin began selling his own
>>> > versions of “Originals”, Lightning Bugs” and “Blue Racers” as
>>> > “Martin Flash Keys”. Less than 5,000 were ever built. Martin also
>>> > developed a “Rotoplex” in the early 1940s that featured a rotary
>>> > pivot mechanism, but that was his last known invention and only a
>>> > few were ever made.
>>> >
>>> > J. E. Albright and his family owned the Vibroplex Company until
>>> > sometime around 1965 when it was sold to John La Hiff, a
>>> > mechanical engineer and long-time company employee who was the
>>> > designer of the “assembled frame” instruments (the No. 6 or
>>> > “Lightning Bug”, the “Zephyr”, and the “Champion”) and probable
>>> > designer of the “Presentation.” La Hiff’s sons sold the company
>>> > to Peter Garsoe in 1979 and it was moved to Portland, ME. Peter
>>> > Garsoe sold the company to Felton “Mitch” Mitchell, W4OA, in 1994
>>> > and it was moved to Mobile, Alabama. Mitch, W4OA sold Vibroplex
>>> > in 2009 to Scott Robbins, W4PA, who moved Vibroplex to Knoxville,
>>> > TN. (See
>>> >
>>> https://web.archive.org/web/20091212094447/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11233/
>>> > <
>>> https://web.archive.org/web/20091212094447/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/12/07/11233/
>>> >)
>>> >
>>> > Current keys have name tags of the manufacturer but no longer
>>> > have serial numbers.
>>> >
>>> > 73
>>> >
>>> > DR
>>> > N1EA
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Sat, Jan 8, 2022, 10:16 Joseph L. Pontek Sr.
>>> > <v31jp1957 at gmail.com <mailto:v31jp1957 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>> > NO, I am talking about the La Hiff adjustable pendulum spring
>>> > was probably only made in Maine.
>>> >
>>> > I have here a Gold Original, that is a gold plated bug and it does
>>> > not have the La Hiff main spring.
>>> > On 1/8/2022 2:55 AM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
>>> > Joe,
>>> >
>>> > The Presentation model came out just after WWII. It was made in
>>> > Brooklyn. When Vibroplex was sold to Mr. Garsoe of Portland,
>>> > Maine, he stopped the production of Presentation, Blue Racer,
>>> > Lightning Bug and Champion models, leaving only the Original
>>> > model. I don't know if was Mr. Garsoe or, Shelley "Mitch"
>>> > Mitchell, W4OA who started up the various finishes of the
>>> > Original model: 1) Standard, 2) Deluxe 3) Blue Racer (blue base),
>>> > 4) Blue Racer (chrome base), and 5) Presentation models. Later
>>> > they added the 6) Presentation All Gold Plated model!
>>> >
>>> > The Presentation you're thinking of, Joe, is the Original
>>> > Presentation finish.
>>> >
>>> > All the top parts are Original model parts, no smaller scale
>>> > parts like on the first Blue Racer models.
>>> >
>>> > 73
>>> >
>>> > DR
>>> > --
>>> > Regards, Joe, K8JP/V31JP, Ronnie, Martin & Sidney Pontek
>>> > 175 Diamond Loch Rd., Apt. 5
>>> > Gilmer, TX 75644-9374
>>> > U.S.A.
>>> > 903-204-2318 (My TX cellular)
>>> >
>>> > Member FOC-1743 Feb 2001, QCWA-LM21894, OOTC-4607, A1OP, CFO
>>> > 1055, SKCC-3171T, NAQCC-5798, Flying Pig-2819, FISTS-7625CC951,
>>> > A1C-2299, SOC 1075, 10-10 22977, PG1915841, CW Rag chewers #21,
>>> > Facebook: Joe Pontek
>>> > ______________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>> --
>>> Richard Knoppow
>>> 1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
>>> WB6KBL
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